Private-sector involvement in public health care is nothing to fear

/ Health Law /

It should be obvious to everyone that our current healthcare model is not working, as evidenced by waitlists that sometimes stretch beyond a year as thousands linger in pain, their quality of life eroding. But if someone dares to suggest relieving the backlog by involving private-sector partners, accusations of two-tier health care and extra costs […]

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What are third-party records and why are they important?

/ Criminal Law /

Third-party records are documents containing personal information about the victim or a witness connected to your case. They are something the person likely assumes will never be made public, since the information is often of a personal nature. Examples of third-party records are: notes taken by a counsellor, therapist, psychologist or doctor; hospital records; records

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Now is not the time to cut juries from civil trials: TLA president

/ Legal Services /

By Paul Russell, LegalMatters Staff • There are better ways to increase the efficiency of the judicial process than eliminating juries from civil trials, says Brett Harrison, president of the Toronto Lawyers Association (TLA). He was responding to a recent letter from Ontario Attorney General Doug Downey, seeking input from key stakeholders in the legal

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Mediation: Four critical things to know about the process

/ Family Law /

Divorce is often portrayed as a bitter, dragged out battle, pitting people against each other, inevitably ending with a loser and a winner. But while the process may not be enjoyable, it does not have to look like this.  There are alternative methods of dispute resolution. Options like mediation make it possible for couples to

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Recent cycling deaths point to a need to make roads safer

/ Personal Injury /

By LegalMatters Staff • A “disproportionate number” of cycling fatalities in the past few months illustrates the need for stronger penalties, improved infrastructure and more robust law enforcement to curb senseless tragedies, says Ontario trial lawyer and safety advocate Patrick Brown. “The bottom line has been and continues to be that we need more vigorous

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What do e-scooters mean for safety on Ontario roads?

/ Personal Injury /

In November 2019, the provincial government announced a five-year pilot project allowing the use of electric scooters, commonly known as e-scooters on Ontario roads, beginning Jan. 1, 2020. The integration of e-scooters was met with push-back by road safety experts, city officials and personal injury lawyers, citing the dangers seen in cities across North America.

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As Alberta realizes, private clinics best way to tackle long waitlists

/ Health Law /

Alberta is on the right track with a bill that should make it easier for private surgical clinics to be established, setting the precedent for other provinces. Across Canada, people are stuck on waitlists for two years or more for medically necessary operations. I am not talking about cosmetic surgery, but instead procedures such as

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Google adds more ammo in fight against online counterfeiting

/ Intellectual Property /

By LegalMatters Staff • A recent Google policy change provides a timely weapon in the long-running battle against online counterfeiters, says Toronto intellectual property lawyer John Simpson. Last month, the search engine giant introduced an update to its guidelines which will allow users to report websites that sell or promote the sale of counterfeit goods.

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Divorce rates expected to climb amidst COVID crisis

/ Family Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • Marriages appear to be another victim of the pandemic as so-called “coronavirus divorces” become a reality, says Toronto family lawyer A. Julia P. Tremain. Tremain, partner with Waddell Phillips Professional Corporation, says the pressures of the COVID-19 shutdown and self-isolation have left an increasing number of couples contemplating the end of

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